Plug and jack assembly



Aug. 22, 1961 s. L. KLASSEN 2,997,631

PLUG AND JACK ASSEMBLY Filed Jan. 50, 1957 I INVENTOR 8 A /6 FPHEA/ LOUIS/Q9555 l BY 4 W ZATTORNY United States Patent O Jersey Filed Jan. 30, 1957, Ser. No. 637,288 7 Claims. (Cl. 339-74) My invention relates to plug and jack assemblies or connectors and more particularly to a type employed in thermocouple leads.

It is well known that where temperature difierences occur across connections in thermocouple leads, only connectors having fixed and positive connections with matched thermocouple materials will eliminate errors occasioned by unmatched materials, and even slightly loose connections. Furthermore, where accurate temperature readings are required, it is generally recognized that, within the temperature range to which the con nectors are subjected, the temperature characteristics of the materials used to complete the circuit must match those of the thermocouple.

One of the objects of my invention is to provide a connector for employment in thermocouple leads and which is constructed of matched thermocouple materials and wherein the contact members are capable of quick assembly and disassembly for circuit making and breaking.

Another object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character which is simple in construction, durable in use, efficient in operation, economical in manufacture and capable of use in connection with high temperature turbo-jet aircraft engine thermocouples, harnmses and similar installation s.

A further object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character which may be relatively small and compact, light in weight, and provided with contact members of thermocouple materials.

A still further object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character wherein the contact members are possessed of a relatively low degree of contact resistance at elevated temperatures.

'An important object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character having detachable components which are not only self-locking when assembled but are equipped with means insure positive locking of the components against vibration and accidental release thus functioning as a safety precaution.

Another important object of my invention is to provide a connector of the foregoing described character which is equipped with means to facilitate and effect quick assembly and disassembly of the components or contact members when desired.

With the above and other objects in view, as will hereinafter appear, the invention consistsin the combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth and illustrated in the accompanying drawings from which the several features of the invention and the advantages attained thereby will be readily understood by those skilled in the art.

Referring to the drawings wherein like reference characters designate like parts throughout the several views:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of my invention.

FIGURE 2 is a disassembled perspective view of the male and female units.

FIGURE 3 is a disassembled sectional view of the units taken on the plane indicated by line 3-3 of FIG- URE 1 and with certain of the parts being shown in elevation.

FIGURE 4 is a detail transverse sectional view of the female unit.

FIGURE 5 is a disassembled perspective view of the contact members.

As illustrated in the drawings, my connector or plug and jack assembly comprises male and female units 4 and 5, respectively, with each of the units being provided with a shell 6 encasing a cylindrical housing 7 of insulating material. Each housing is formed with a pair of longitudinally separable sections 8 and 9, respectively, to permit disassembly of the housing, the sections 8 and 9 being secured together by the shell 6. Each shell 6 is formed at one end with a circumferential rib 10 and at the opposite end with a groove 11 in which is seated a snap ring 12 with the latter and rib 10 coacting to engage the radial end faces of the respective housing and retain the same within the shell. Obviously, by removing the ring 12,. the housing may be removed from the shell and the sec-- tions separated.

The unit 4 is provided with a pair of spaced contact members or prongs 13 seated within grooves 14 formed in the confronting faces of the sections 8 and 9 of the housing and which prongs 13 have their outer end portions 15 projecting beyond the end of the housing. The inner end portions of the prongs 13 terminate within the housing and are formed with diametrically enlarged sections constituting sleeves 16 in which are secured ends of lead wires 17 and 18 by suitable means, for instance, solder. The sleeves 16 are provided with laterally ex-- tending fingers 19 disposed within seats 20 formed in the; confronting faces of the sections 8 and 9 whereby they preclude axial displacement of the prongs relative to the- 3 housing when the sections 8 and 9 thereof are assembled a in relative spaced relation.

within the shell 6.

The unit 5 is provided with a pair of contact members or cylindriform springs 22 which function as sockets for receiving the prongs 13. Coincident ends of the springs 22 are secured to sleeves 23 similar to the sleeves 16 to springs 22 also extend laterally of their respective con volutions to provide actuating arms 26 which terminate The springs 22 are disposed within bores 27 extending through the housing and with the bores being of a greater diameter than the convolutions of the springs throughout the length thereof. The diameters of the prongs 13 are greater than the normal interior diameters of the convolutions of the springs 22,,

whereby, when the prongs are disposed within the springs a tight and locking fit will be established therewith.

The section 9 of the housing of the unit 5, together with its respective shell, are formed with a radially extending aligned opening 29 in which is slidably mounted a push button 30 having a collar 31 on its inner end which seats upon the arms 26 of the spring 22 with the arms tending to urge the push button outwardly of the housing. Obviously, by manually depressing the push button 30, the diameters of the convolutions of the springs will be increased and thus permit ready insertion of and withdrawal of the prongs from within the springs as desired. When the push button is released, the inherent resiliency of the springs functions to effect gripping of the convolutions about the prongs due to the decrease in the diameters of the convolutions towards their pre-established normal size.

To insure proper matching of the members '13 and 22, with respect to polarity, one section of the housing of the unit 4 is equipped with a contact aligning pin 33 for insertion Within an opening 34 formed in the confronting section of the unit 5, thus, precluding mismatching of the contact members 13 and 22 when the units 4 and 5 are. connected together to complete the circuit, through the wires 17 and 18'. The contact members '13,, and 2 2 be constructed of any suitable material, for example, those. of positive and negative polarities being constructed of Chromel and Alumel, respectively.

\From the present disclosure it will be apparent that I have provided a plug and jack assembly wherein the contact members 13 and 22 are connected together in a manner to efiect positive locking against vibration and accidental release and wherein the members may be constructed of suitable matched thermocouple materials having a relatively low degree of contact resistance at elevated temperatures.

Without further elaboration, the foregoing will so fully explain the invention that others may, by applying current knowledge, readily adapt the same for use under various conditions of service. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and subcombinations.

It. is obvious that the invention is not confined to the herein described use therefore as it may be utilized for any purpose to which it is adaptable. It is therefore to, be. understood that the invention is not limited to. the

specific construction as illustrated and described, as the.

same is only illustrative of the principles involved which are, capable of extending application in various forms, and the invention comprehends all construction within the scope of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a jack adapted to have a plug connected thereto and comprising a housing of insulating material provided with separable sections and formed with pairs of registering grooves in the confronting faces of said sections, a pair of contact members disposed in said grooves with each member including a locking coil spring having a normal pre-established uniform diameter throughout its length and adapted to receive therein the prong of a plug for locking relationship against vibration when said said prongs within said springs and to release and permit.

free withdrawal of said prongs from within said springs, a push button extending into said housing and engaging said projecting ends for moving said ends to effect said increase upon inward movement of said button.

2. In a plug and jack assembly, detachable connector units with one of said units having a pair of spaced prongs extending therefrom and adapted to be connected.

to a pair of lead wires, respectively, of a circuit in which said assembly is incorporated, said other unit having a housing of insulating material and provided with a pairof contact members adapted to be connected to another pair of lead wires of said circuit, respectively, said mem-.

bers being disposed in spaced relation within said housing and each member including a spring in tensioned engagement with one of said prongs to lock the latter there to to preclude movement therebetween and being provided with a laterally projecting end section, manually actuated means disposed in said housing in engagement with said sections and operable for varying the tensionof said springs, whereby, to permit free connection and disconnection between said prongs and said springs.

3. A connector unit for a plug and jack assembly comprising a housing, a pair of contact members adapted to be connected to a pair of lead wires of a circuit, respectively, and disposed in spaced relation within said houseing and each, including a, spring; adapted to, be. disposed;

in tensioned engagement with a contact element of another unit of said assembly to lock said element to said spring to preclude movement therebetween and with said spring having a laterally projecting end section extending towards the end section of the other spring, a push button carried, by said; housing and disposed in engagement with said sections, said button being operable, formoving said sections to vary the tension of said springs whereby to permit fr e connection and disconnection of said elements with, said members.

4. The structure as set forth and defined in claim 2, including guide means carried by said assembly for effooting; attachment of, said units in a predetermined order whereby to insure mating of said prongs and members in a pre-established manner.

5.. In a plug; and jack, assembly, detachably connected. units, with one of said units having a pair of spaced prongs extending therefrom and adapted to be connected to a pair of lead wires, respectively, of a circuit in which said assembly is incorporated, said other unit having, a housing of insulating material and being provided with separable sections, a. pair of contact members adapted to be connected to another pair of lead wires of said circuit, respectively, and being disposed in spaced relation within said sections and with each member including, a

locking coil spring having a normal pre-established uniform diameter throughout its length and constituting; a socket receiving one of said prongs in locked relationship therein against vibration, said sections being formed with pairs of: registering grooves accommodating said members. and, said prongs and with said grooves being of a greater width than, saidv springs to permit an increase in the. diameters of said springs, said prongs being of greater diameters than their respective springs, when said units are detached, to effect said relationship when said prongs are disposed within said sockets to complete said circuit between, said pairs of lead wires, said springs having laterally projecting coincident end portions extending towards each other and being movable solely laterally to increase. the diameters; of said springs beyond the diameters of said prongs, a push-button extending into said housing and seated on said end portions and being operable to move. said portions eccentrically relative to the axes of, said sockets and thus efiect said increase to permit release and free withdrawal of said prongs from within said sockets. and free insertion of said prongs into :said, sockets, oneof said units having a positioning guide pin and the other of said units having an opening receiving said pin to insure mating of said prongs and members in a predetermined order.

61A connector unit for a plug and jack assemblycomprising a housing, a pair of contacts adapted to be connected to a pair of lead wires of a circuit, respectively, and disposed in spaced relation within said housing and said contacts comprising reversely-wound helices adapted,

to be disposed in tensioned engagement with and in air, cumseated relation about a contact element of another unit of said assembly to lock said element to said con-- tacts to preclude movementv therebetween, said contacts, havinglaterally projecting juxtaposed coincident endsections for simultaneous movement normal to the plane of the axes of said contacts, operating means extending,

into said housing in engagement with said sections. and

operable for elfecting said simultaneous unitary movement to thus vary the tension of said contacts whereby to. permit free connection and disconnection'of said elements with said contacts.

7. A connector unit for a plug and jack assembly comprising a housing, a pair of contacts adapted to be connected to a pair of lead wires of a circuit, respectively,

and disposed in spaced relation within said housing, said" contacts comprising reversely-wound helices of a normaland pre-established definite diameter for receiving acontact element of a greater diameter of another unit of said assembly in tensioned and circumseatedenga ge References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Bliss Ian. 31, 1911 Dubilier Oct. 28, 1930 Feuchter l v July 9, 1935 Eaton May 23, 1939 Stambaugh May 7, 1940 Hubbell et al. Sept. 9, 1947 Hubbell et a1. Sept. 12, 1950 

